TA Education Cluster Information Management Officer, (P-2), Bangui, CAR

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential - to the benefit of a better world.

Purpose of the Position

The Information Management Officer is a core Cluster Coordination team member.  The purpose of this post is to manage the collection, analysis and sharing of information that is important for the Cluster participants to make informed (evidence based) strategic decisions and guide Emergency in Education programming in areas affected by the ongoing crisis.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

The post holder is responsible for building, leading and managing the Education Cluster Information Management Team which will:

• Respond to the Cluster participants’ needs for information;
• Adapt and improve existing in-country information management approaches for collecting, analyzing and reporting Cluster activities and resources, and identifying information gaps;
• Establish and maintain information databases that consolidate, analyse and disseminate information critical to decision making;
• Maintain monthly reporting from Clusters participants, including 5Ws (‘Who does What, Where, When and for Whom?’ databases) improve the template for the 5Ws and make sure the template is consistent with information needs;
• Work with the Education Cluster participants to identify information gaps at national and sub-national levels and propose ways to bridge those gaps;
• Work with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Information Management Specialist to develop appropriate supportive strategies.
• Use GIS (geographic information system) mapping for map production and geographic data management.
• Adopt and promote the use of global standards for information management for inter-operability.
• Manage flows of information and dissemination in an appropriate way, including website management.
• Manage an inventory of relevant documents on the humanitarian situation.
• Support the development and analysis of needs assessment and monitoring programmes.
• To provide information management leadership in assessments and monitoring, including joint assessments and training.
• Lead on the preparation of Situation Report (SitRep) inputs with emphasis on Cluster plans, targets and achievements.
• Develop and strengthen information management capacity through the training.
• Contribute to the core cluster functions.
• Ensure effective communication, reporting, engagement and coordination between sub-national coordination groups
• Support the estimation of spatial and temporal gaps, overlaps and coverage of Clusters’ activities and projects;
• Update contact lists on a daily basis and make sure contacts are accurate;
• Support the writing of meeting minutes and upload meeting minutes on HR.Info;
• Participate in the Information Management Working Group (IMWG) and respond  to OCHA’s requests for information (Central Emergency Response Fund - CERF, SitRep, Who does what, Where? - 3W, Strategic Response Plan - SRP indicator reporting);
• Manage flows of information and dissemination in an appropriate way, including management of webpages (https://car.humanitarianresponse.info/fr/clusters/education,  https://car.humanitarianresponse.info/fr/clusters/child-protection)
• Support assessments and monitoring, including joint assessments;

 Core cluster functions:

To support service delivery by:

• Providing a platform that ensures service delivery is driven by the Strategic Response Plan and strategic priorities.
• Developing mechanisms to eliminate duplication of service delivery.

To inform the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC)/ Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) strategic decision-making by:

• Preparing needs assessment and analysis of gaps (across and within sectors, using information management tools as needed)
• Identifying and finding solutions for (emerging) gaps, obstacles, duplication and cross-cutting issues.
• Formulating priorities on the basis of analysis.

To plan and develop strategy by:

• Developing sectoral plans, objectives and indicators that directly support realization of the response’s strategic priorities.
• Applying and adhering to common standards and guidelines.
• Clarifying funding requirements, helping to set priorities, and agreeing cluster contributions to the HC’s overall humanitarian funding proposals.

To monitor and evaluate performance by:

• Monitoring and reporting on activities and needs.
• Measuring performance against the cluster strategy and agreed results.
• Recommending corrective action where necessary.

To build national capacity in preparedness and contingency planning:

Advocacy

• Identifying concerns that contribute to HC and HCT messaging and action.
• Undertaking advocacy on behalf of the cluster, cluster members, and affected people.

Accountability to affected populations

• The global cluster will provide operational support to the country cluster, see Reference 1.
• Performance of the cluster will be measured using the Coordination Performance Report, see Reference 3.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Education

• Advanced university degree in a subject area relevant to information management.First level university degree with additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 2 years progressively responsible humanitarian work experience with UN and/or NGO, including information management in the first phase of a major emergency response relevant to the cluster.
• Extensive experience to use MS Excel or MS Access (e.g. pivot tables and functions); managing data capture and storage, analyzing diverse data sets, and presenting information in understandable tables, charts, graphs and reports; knowledge of establishing and managing basic websites (e.g. UNOCHA’s Humanitarian Response platform); using GIS and map-making packages, and in web design and software development is required.
• Extensive work experience outside the humanitarian sector which is relevant to this post may be considered as a replacement for humanitarian experience.

Language Proficiency

• Fluency in French and English is required  .

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Understands the rationale behind Humanitarian Reform, its main components and recent developments including the Transformative Agenda;
• Understands, uses and adapts the tools, mechanisms and processes developed as part of Humanitarian Reform;
• Demonstrates commitment to Humanitarian Principles - https://docs.unocha.org/sites/dms/Documents/OOM-humanitarianprinciples_eng_June12.pdf
• Demonstrates commitment to Principles of Partnership - http://www.globalhumanitarianplatform.org/doc00003804.doc
• Communicates, works and networks effectively with a wide range of people to reach broad consensus on a well-coordinated response, and demonstrates leadership where required.
• Thinks and acts strategically and ensures that cluster activities are prioritised and aligned within an agreed strategy;
• Demonstrates commitment to the cluster and independence from employing organisation.
• Builds, motivates and leads information management team.

Technical competences

• Understands key technical issues for the cluster sufficiently well enough to be able to: engage with cluster participants; understand their cluster-specific information management needs.
• Excellent knowledge of MS Excel or MS Access (e.g. pivot tables and functions).
• Proven technical expertise for managing data capture and storage, for analyzing diverse data sets, and presenting information in understandable tables, charts, graphs and reports;
• Knowledge of establishing and managing basic websites (e.g. UNOCHA’s Humanitarian Response platform);
• Proven skills in using GIS and map-making packages, and in web design and software development are an asset.

Remarks

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.

* Please note that this is a non-family duty station.

* Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offers of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.